电子邮件是应用类文体，所以在写的时候要注意两个方面：基本格式和使用情境。
基本格式是万变不离其宗的：标题，称谓（抬头），开头寒暄，正文，结尾感谢，落款。
1. 标题
简洁明了，单刀直入。Appointment / Missed Class / Inquiry on assignment / Question about Week 4 Reading Material 等。
2. 称谓
称谓很重要，不要给所有的老师都乱戴Professor的帽子。有的学者会对自己的头衔很敏感，如果人家只是Lecturer你跑去叫一声Professor会乱尴尬一把。如果是Professor你却叫了Dr.，就是擅自给人家降了级，虽然人家不见得会真心介意，但小心驶得万年船你说对吧。保险的做法是上网搜一下老师的个人页面，页面上的头衔是什么你就写什么。Dr.的情况比较多。Tutor如果是postgraduate student，一般可以直接叫名字，但如果是社会人或者已经取得博士头衔的，也要酌情调整。
举个栗子。对这位就是不能叫Dr.的。
3. 开头寒暄
开头寒暄需根据你和对方的熟悉程度酌情选择。
(1) Thank you for reading this email. / Thank you for taking time to read this email.
适用于不熟悉的大课老师、套磁学术大牛、和你没有见过面的人。首先感谢对方和你素不相识却愿意花时间阅读你的邮件。属于非常客气的用语。
(2) I am XXX （姓名，年级）in your XXX class (课程名）and I'm writing to _________.
对于任课老师或本校老师，可以省去第一句的感谢直接自我介绍并说明来意。一定要在邮件的最开头简单明了的说明你的目的。
(3) I hope you are having a good summer / Christmas / Easter holiday.
和比较熟悉的老师在假期前后发邮件可以加上时令寒暄。
(4) I am resending the e-mail in case you did not receive it the first time.
如果老师过了三四天甚至一周都没回复你的邮件，不要指责人家，用这句委婉的开头重发一次。
4. 正文
(1) I have reviewed your faculty profile and am interested in the work that you have done. I was intrigued by your journal article, "Article Title."
套磁用。表示你了解这位老师的研究方向，做了功课。
(2) I would appreciate a meeting at your convenience. These are my available hours (xxxxx), so please let me know if any of those times would work with your schedule.
约见用。多提供一些你可以去见面的时间供对方选择。
(3) Would it be okay if I come to your office hours this week to talk about this, and if not, would you be willing to schedule an appointment with me?
同样是约见用。
(4) I would appreciate the chance to talk with you about your research in ______ (topic) and about possible undergraduate opportunities in your lab.
套磁，求研究助理工作。
5. 结尾
结尾一般做两件事，一是感谢对方愿意读完你的邮件以及可能对你做出的帮助，二是再次提醒对方你需要TA做的事情（回复你的邮件、提供可约见的时间等等）。
(1) A response would be very much appreciated. Thank you for your time.
表示希望对方回复你的邮件，非常客气的用语。
(2) I look forward to hearing from you. / Looking forward to your reply.
希望对方回复。
(3) Thank you very much (for your time / help/ consideration.)
不管说了什么反正最后一定要谢一下。
6. 落款称谓
比较正式：Yours sincerely, Best regards,
相对随意：Cheers, Regards, Best
最后注意：
老师们通常很忙（或者很懒），不爱看长篇大论的邮件。所以邮件的要领是突出重点，短小精悍，同时礼貌得体。Be short and sweet.
